Now open at Broadway Market is a retro caff done delicious: Market Cafe. Basically it's Formica + an old school caff menu but fresher and more gastro-y. That's a winning concept, especially so close to the Regent's Canal and London Fields and amid Broadway Market's buzzing atmo. A labour of love for Hugo Warner (ex-Benugo) and chef James Adams (ex-Canteen, Fifteen, St John, River Cafe), Market Cafe's been enticing diners a bunch of soft launch yummy incentives. For example, the first 50 folk to book tonight will get 50% off their food bill. FYI: the handcut tagliatelle and meat sauce is particularly tasty. They serve nice cocktails too.
Hawksmoor Spitalfields has revealed a new downstairs bar (official opening is this Saturday the 3rd). Another Victorian speakeasy kinda place, come here to schmooze over classic cocktails and eat unhealthy yet novel bar food a la short rib nuggets and jalapeño coleslaw. Think of it as an American sports bar ravaged by a Shoreditch interior designer (and minus all the TVs) … a Bodean's chic if you will. Intriguing.
Another intriguing new bar with a Victorian air is Ruby's in Dalsnewington. Local Stokie bloggers, London on the Inside, were “pretty darn pleased” with their visit to this “great cocktail joint”.
Celebrating Holi next week? A few notable Indian restaurants will feature special menus to help you make the most of this festival of colour.
On now and until 10 March, Cinnamon Kitchen is offering a free “Holi water” cocktail and a £35 tasting menu (black leg chicken and curry leaf quinoa? Okay!). Sister restaurant, Cinnamon Club has a £50 special for the same dates. Dishes include crisp Portobello mushroom with apple and fennel chutney, smoked Herdwick lamb rack with mint and onion sauce and saffron pilau; and Thandai and goji berry parfait, rice kheer and chocolate mandarin pudding.
From 5 to 11 March, Trishna will offer a special Holi tasting menu (£35.50 for four courses, £64 including wine pairings, or £45.50 for six courses, £88 with wine pairings) with dishes along the delectable lines of crab and pollack tikkas with curry leaf, mustard seed and crab chutney.
On the 8th and 9th, Dishoom will “go rainbow-bright” with the pavement outside the resto “given the Holi treatment” and the staff covered in bright powders.
Shayona, at the Neasden Hindu Temple, is marking Holi on the 8th and 9th as well with their own "colourful menu of traditional treats" including paneer dholak (crispy fried paneer and sweetcorn), Rang-Berangi aloo mirch (smoked potatoes cooked with sweet red and green chillies) and thandai (a milkshake made with spices, seeds and rose petals).
Photo/Dusty sevens
